5 Things I'm Excited to See in Deathstroke's New GAME OF THRONES Status Quo

Summary Deathstroke fans rejoice! Dark Knights of Steel sequel promises epic storytelling and badass art in a comic book dream come true.

Get ready for a Deathstroke vs. Batman showdown and epic battles with ice zombie hordes and a viking-style Ravager in Allwinter.

Exciting teases include Deathstroke's new bear mount, Rose Wilson's return, and a Swamp Thing twist.

As a die-hard fan of Slade Wilson, the Deathstroke-centric sequel to Tom Taylor’s Dark Knights of Steel Elseworlds is a comic book dream come true. With just one issue released, I can already tell it’s going to be one of the best series of 2024. To celebrate the upcoming issues and my unwavering love for my favorite cankerous old man, I’m excited to share the top five teases from DC that I can’t wait to see unfold in the story.

"Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter masterfully blends phenomenal storytelling with gorgeously brutal art that will instantly capture the heart of any lover of DC's Elseworlds imprint. Time and again, this dark fantasy has left me grinning ear-to-ear with one resounding thought: That was badass." - Taylor Blake Forsberg, Comics Writer, 20 Best Comics of 2024 (So Far)

This list is for the curious, the excited, and the skeptical. If you’re as pumped about the Dark Knights of Steel sequel as I am or need convincing to give Jay Kristoff and Tirso Cons' Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter a try, this article is for you. With brutally gorgeous art and phenomenal storytelling, this series has something for everyone. Fans of the Game of Thrones' White Walker plotline, World of Warcraft mounts, Rose “Ravager” Wilson, Swamp Thing, or those who just love to see Batman and Deathstroke face-off will find much to enjoy here.

5 Deathstroke’s New Bear Mount Is WORLD OF WARCRAFT Levels of Badass

Cover B Yasmine Putri Card Stock Variant for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4 (2024)

Back in the 2000s, my dad was running a World of Warcraft guild and was in desperate need of a healer. Lucky for him, he had a ten-year-old daughter lying around that he could easily bribe with mounts and pets to do his bidding in the MMORPG. Since I insisted on playing an elderly dwarf man, my first mount was a bear that I mentally named ‘Old Man.’ That being said, you can only imagine my excitement when I saw Slade-Fracking-Wilson riding a massive white bear into combat against Batman in Yasmine Putri's cover art for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4.

This might be one of the best things to happen to Deathstroke in decades, and with Screen Rant readers as my witnesses, this bear mount better make it into the narrative, or I will RIOT. Variant covers can be hit or miss when hinting at the story—some are just eye-candy, while others tease epic developments. I’m hoping for the latter with Deathstroke’s bear mount. If Slade’s grizzly companion does make an appearance, it will be interesting to see if Kristoff provides any insight into how Deathstroke tamed such a massive bear.

Related Deathstroke Debuts New Costume by Killing A-List Gotham Rogue Deathstroke just got infinitely more badass with the debut of his newest costume, elevating Slade Wilson from mercenary to a legend in the making.

4 DC Meets GAME OF THRONES In Epic Deathstroke vs. Ice Zombie Hoard Battle

Main Cover by Tirso Cons for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4 (2024)

After the first season of Game of Thrones had fully released, my father was in desperate need of a binge-watching partner. My toddler brother wasn’t an option, and my mother refused to watch anything but Bravo’s Housewives. So, the sacred duty of being Dad’s best fill-in fell to me once again, sparking my obsession with Game of Thrones. Therefore, it should be no surprise that my first thought when I saw Tirso Cons' main cover for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4 was WHITE WALKERS. This initial impression was only solidified when I read the issue's synopsis.

The synopsis hints that Deathstroke, along with his young charge, will be fighting through the frozen badlands against “ice zombie hordes.” The depiction of these frost-bitten zombies with glowing blue eyes unmistakably echoes Game of Thrones' undead horde. Given that the White Walker plotline was one of my favorites in GoT, I'm exceptionally excited to see Slade face his own battle of fire and ice. It's all but guaranteed that we’ll witness Deathstroke in full badass mode. Plus, there's the incredibly wholesome bonus of him protecting a child while doing so. Cue the swooning now.

3 Ravager: Deathstroke’s Daughter Returns to Comics With Hardcore Viking Design

Cover B Skylar Patridge Card Stock Variant for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #3 (2024)

At this point, is it any surprise that I’m a fan of a great daddy-daughter duo? I’ve always loved Rose Wilson; she’s by far my favorite Wilson kid. Although the synopses haven't mentioned her yet, Skylar Patridge’s variant cover for Dark Knights of Steel #3 all but guarantees that Rose will appear as Ravager, complete with a badass Viking twist. The cover shows Rose with her signature white hair styled in long braids. She also sports a facial tattoo—a solid black line from her lower lip to her chin—and her iconic orange and black bisected mask, now enhanced with Viking armor flair and moose antlers.

It would be highly unusual to tease such a well-known character and invest so much thought into her design if she weren’t going to make an appearance in the narrative. Therefore, Ravager fans can rest easy knowing that Rose will most likely be featured. This is especially exciting because it means we’ll get to see a fresh dynamic between the father-daughter duo. Since these characters have no existing baggage in the Dark Knights of Steel world, Kristoff has the freedom to take their relationship in any direction he desires. The possibilities are both endless and thrilling.

Related Deathstroke's Axe-Wielding Viking Look Makes the Regular Mercenary Seem Like a Joke (Cosplayers, Pay Attention) Deathstroke trades in his dual katanas and guns for a war axe, transforming into the ultimate Viking warlord in Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter.

2 Deathstroke vs. Batman: Slade Wilson and Bruce Wayne Clash In Dark Fantasy Setting of DKoS

Main Cover by Tirso Cons for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #3 (2024)

It might be basic of me, but I can’t help but love a classic throwdown between Batman and Deathstroke. Thanks to the synopsis for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #3 and the main cover by Tirso Cons, I know that’s exactly what we’ll get come September 18. What makes this even more exciting is the potential for this battle to evolve into an unlikely alliance. I’m placing my bets that Slade and Bruce will initially clash due to a misunderstanding, but once it's cleared up, they'll forge a begrudging partnership.

What’s especially intriguing about Batman’s role in Allwinter is that, so far, he’s the only character from Tom Taylor’s original series making an appearance. While this could change as more mysteries unfold, Bruce is the only familiar face confirmed for the action at this point. Personally, I have no complaints—Batman was one of my favorite characters in the original series, and his dynamic with Slade promises to be exceptionally entertaining. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the interaction between Slade and Bruce is more than just a fleeting interaction and actually plays a substantial role in the narrative.

Related Deathstroke's Latest Feat Officially Makes Him DC's Biggest Badass (Sorry, Batman) Sorry, Batman fans, but nothing the Dark Knight ever does will compare to the levels of badassery Deathstroke just achieved with this one feat.

1 Allwinter Introduces Alec “Swamp Thing” Holland Into the Dark Knights of Steel World (With a Twist)

Cover C Christian Ward Card Stock Variant for Dark knights of Steel: Allwinter #2 (2024)

It’s clear that I’m excited about everything related to this series, but I’m especially thrilled about Alec “Swamp Thing” Holland’s role, as it’s the most intriguingly mysterious. Right from the start, we know this version of Holland is unlike any we’ve seen before—he’s a small child rather than the traditional swamp creature. Although his identity hasn’t been officially confirmed in the narrative yet, it’s highly likely that the last panel of Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1, which features a little boy, introduced Alec.

This assumption is further supported by the synopsis for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #3, which hints that Slade is journeying across the winter wasteland with “his young yet powerful charge, Alec Holland.” Given that the boy from issue one is prominently featured in various variant covers alongside Deathstroke, his identity seems clear. However, the role Alec will play in the narrative—and what makes him so powerful that he’s the only thing in color in a world drained of it—remains uncertain. One thing is for sure: exciting developments are ahead for Deathstroke as he takes on his new role as guardian, and I can’t wait to experience every moment of it.

Related Deathstroke Reveals the Brutal Way He Handles Magic Threats (Superman Take Note) Slade Wilson once again proves that he is the most pragmatic character in the DC Universe by revealing the way he handles magical threats.

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER #2 is available on August 21, 2024, from DC Comics!

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER #3 is available on September 18, 2024, from DC Comics!

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER #4 is available on October 16, 2024, from DC Comics!

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER #2 (2024) Writer: Jay Kristoff

Artist: Tirso Cons

Cover Artist: Tirso Cons

DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL: ALLWINTER #3 (2024) Writer: Jay Kristoff

Artist: Tirso Cons

Cover Artist: Tirso Cons